RYE BROOK, N.Y., December 19, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, congratulates the national team of India, winners of the Xylem Water Prize 2017, awarded at the 14th annual International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO). The theme of this year’s IJSO was “Water and Sustainability” and the competition took place on December 4-11, 2017, in The Netherlands, where more than 300 students aged 15 years or younger from 50 different countries tested their scientific knowledge and skills.

As a sponsor of the IJSO, Xylem launched the first Xylem Water Prize, which invited participating students to produce a video answering the question, “How do you solve water?” All submissions were evaluated for impact, clarity, creativity and innovation by an international judging panel. Team India’s winning video, which outlined the students’ idea for a floating solar-powered desalination plant, can be viewed here.

The winning team members were presented with a certificate and an iPad. A video of the presentation can be viewed here.

“The threats to our water resources have never been greater, but, increasingly, there are sustainable solutions to these challenges driven by advanced technologies,” said Patrick Decker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Xylem. “This is the next generation of the world’s problem-solvers and innovators and they won’t let their thinking or curiosity be constrained by the traditional models of the past. I couldn’t be more proud to support the International Junior Science Olympiad, and hope the students’ experiences here will inspire them to continue their water-related studies.”

The Xylem Water Prize was presented during the Opening Ceremony of the IJSO. A representative of the Dutch Ministry for Education officially opened the ceremony, which included presentations by Clemens Cornielje, King’s Commissioner of the Dutch province of Gelderland; André Kuipers, Ambassador of IJSO 2017, Dutch physician and ESA astronaut; and Paresh K. Joshi, Chairman of the International Junior Science Olympiad.

The 14th International Junior Science Olympiad was organized by the IJSO 2017 Foundation. During the competition, students were tested on their knowledge and skills in physics, biology and chemistry. The 2017 theme of “Water and Sustainability” was particularly fitting for The Netherlands – a nation that pioneered smart water management for generations.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services settings. With its October 2016 acquisition of Sensus, Xylem added smart metering, network technologies and advanced data analytics for water, gas and electric utilities to its portfolio of solutions. The combined Company’s nearly 16,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York with 2016 revenue of $3.8 billion, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all – that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.